Reproductive toxicity: Male and female reproductive systems as targets for chemical injury

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Medical Clinics of North America; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0025-7125(16)30569-7· OSTI ID:6905425

Mattison, D R; Plowchalk, D R; Meadows, M J; Al-Juburi, A Z; Gandy, J; Malek, A ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock (USA)

On the basis of current knowledge of reproductive biology and toxicology, it is apparent that chemicals affecting reproduction may elicit their effects at a number of sites in both the male and the female reproductive system. This multiplicity of targets is attributable to the dynamic nature of the reproductive system, in which the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is controlled by precise positive and negative feedback mechanisms among its components. Interference by a xenobiotic at any level in either the male or the female reproductive system may ultimately impair hypothalamic or pituitary function. Normal gonadal processes such as spermatogenesis or oogenesis, ejaculation or ovulation, hormone production by Leydig or granulosa cells, and the structure or function of the accessory reproductive structures (e.g., epididymis, fallopian tube) also appear vulnerable to xenobiotics. The reproductive system is a complex one that requires local and circulating hormones for control. This brief review illustrates a system for characterizing the mechanism of action of reproductive toxicants, as well as for defining the sites available for disruption of reproduction. Unfortunately, at present, data addressing the actual vulnerability of reproduction are sorely lacking. However, when experiments have been conducted and combined with epidemiologic data or clinical observation, it has been possible to demonstrate impairment of reproductive processes by xenobiotics. The role of environmental exposure to xenobiotics in the increase in infertility that has been observed remains to be defined. 87 references.

• OSTI ID: 6905425
• Journal Information: Medical Clinics of North America; (USA), Vol. 74:2; ISSN 0025-7125
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
XENOBIOTICS
TOXICITY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
FERTILITY
HYPOTHALAMUS
MAN
OVARIES
PITUITARY GLAND
REPRODUCTION
REVIEWS
TESTES
ANIMALS
BODY
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
FEMALE GENITALS
GLANDS
GONADS
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANS
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology